Improvement in vulcanized-rubber tubes for grain-drills,,gc



Patented May 2,1871.

FIG].

4M FHOTO-LITl/OGRAPl/IC E0. M2 (0550 t iiillt JAMES BIRD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW YORK RUBBER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK CITY.

Letters Patent No. 114,394, dated May 2, 18 71.

IMPROVEMENT I N VUL'CANlZED-ROBBER TUBES FOR GRAlN-DRlLL$,, &c.

The Schedule referred toin these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES B. Bran,of Brooklyn, in the county'of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vulcanized India-Rubber Tubing, of whiohthe following is a specification.

The vulcanized India-rubber tubing to whichmy invention relates is designed for use. in any case where a conducting-tube is required, that shall be light, flexible, cheap, and easily attached to or detached from the apparatus, machine, or other device with which it is to be connected when in use.

An instance in'which my improved tubing is vof value is in grain-drills, so called, or seed-planters which employ flexible tubes, conducting from the grain-box to the furrow the grain which is to be planted.

A vulcanized India-rubber tube for this purpose, if made elastic throughout and of a compound stiff enough to keep its shape, would soon become hard and brittle and therefore unfit for use. The stiff material'made of rubber cloth would not possess sufficient elasticity to allow it to be drawn overan'd clasp the projecting wooden or metal tube on the grain-box tightly euough to hold in place without dther fastening, so that it would require to be tacked or nailed to the box or wooden tube, or to be tied to it and fastened in place by wire.

1n practice,-this has heretofore been the case. The tubes have beenmade of rubber cloth, fastened to the grain-box in the manner stated. The manufacturers of the drills have been compelled to put the tubes in place before sending out their machines from the factory, and the result is that the tubes, being firmly fastened in place and not removable, often become hard, weather-worn, and almost worthless in one seasons wear, and frequently they are thus affected before the drill is sold. I

The objections thus stated to the use of tubes of rubber cloth or stiff compound with grain-drills apply with equal force to other cases in which such conducting-tubes are needed and employed.

- On the other hand, if the tubes were made of purer rubber, or of a bettercompouud, they would, while possessing elasticity, flatten too easily and be toohigh in price.

My object, therefore, is to produce a'conductiugtube for use with grain-drills and for other purposes which shall have the requisite elasticity at the point where it is to fit over and be connected with the grainbox or other device-while its remaining length or portion shall be of greater stiffness and less yielding; to this end,

My invention consists of a vulcanized India-rubber tube for grain-drills and otherpurposes, having its poundpthe two beihg united by vulcanization, substantially as hereinafter described.

My inv 'tion will be readily understood by refer- 'ence'to the accompanying drawing, in whicha Figure 1' is'a perspective view.

Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section of a vul- 'canized India-rubber tube made in accordance with my invention, and shaped with special reference to its use with the grain-box of a drill.

. ,The tube isslightly tapering, with its smallest .di-

arneter at the bottom. The greater portion of the body of the tube is made of canvas, coated on the inside and outside with rubber, this part of the tube extending from ate 1).

' 'llheupperend, or that end which is stretched over the spout or tube of the grain-box, is formed of rubber compound sufficiently pure to possess all the elasticity required in order to allowit to be stretched over the spout, and to cause it to clasp the same firmly and tightly. This elastic portion extends from b to c, and is of any suitable length. r

The parts a b and b c of the tube are placed'together while the rubber is in the green or plastic state, and the two are then united and made lDtOmOlJB tube by the process of vulcanization. In lieu of the rubber cloth any other suitable stiff vulcanizable compound may be used.

The tube thus made can be used to great advanta e. kept in the grain-box of the drill, 'away from all risk of being damaged by the elements; and when .it is needed for use it can be fitted to the spout, where it will hold by its inherent elasticity, or can be tied for greater security, if preferred.

I have described the tube with special reference to its use with a grain-drill; but it is manifest that it can be used with any machine or device which requires the use of a conducting-tube of this character. It is also apparent that. the shape of the tube may be varied greatly without departure from the spirit of my invention; and that, if required, both ends of the tube may be made elastic instead of one, the main portion of the tube remaining comparatively stiif and inelastic, as before.

What I claim, therefore, aud desire to secure byLetters Patent, is--' 1. A vulcanized lndiawrubber tube whose body is made of a comparatively stilT and inelastic compound -When its services are not required it can be ofI-ndia rubber, with one or both ends formed of a, gether in the green or plastic state and then united distinctively elastic compound, the two being united by the process of vulcanizing, as shown'and set forth. by vulcanization substantiallyas shown and described. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to 2.. A -vulcanized India-rubber tube for grain-drills this specification before twosubscr'ibing witnesses. and other purposes, having itsbody composed of can JAMES R. BIRD. vas or equivalent textile fabric, coated internally and externally with rubber, and its upper end, or that end Witnesses: which is applied and secured-to the drill, of an elastic A. A. ALVORD, componndof India rubber, the two being put to- 'R. A. PIPER. 

